FRESNO, CA — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jesus Jimenez Rincon, 37, of Portland, Ore., with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

This case is the product of an investigation by DEA, the California Highway Patrol, and the Merced Multi-Agency Narcotic Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Yasin Mohammad is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the drug charges, Rincon faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment, along with a $4 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.